Oleksandr Usyk returns to the ring tonight to face kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The Ukrainian, who turns 40 in January, has not fought since defeating Daniel Dubois last July. The bout will be contested over 12 three-minute rounds, a distance Usyk is familiar with, having gone the distance nine times in his career. Verhoeven, accustomed to five three-minute rounds in kickboxing, may face a stamina challenge.
Both fighters will wear standard 10 oz gloves for the heavyweight contest. There are no unusual rules for the fight, which is a professional sanctioned bout. Usyk holds the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, but only the WBC belt is on the line for Verhoeven. The WBC granted Usyk a voluntary title defence, but he must face a mandatory challenger next or risk being stripped.
The WBA permitted Usyk to defend the title but stated Verhoeven cannot win it. The IBF granted an exception for the fight, with conditions: if Usyk loses, the IBF title becomes vacant; if he wins, the IBF will order a mandatory defence 180 days after the WBC or WBA mandatory. The IBF acknowledged the rotation system among the major sanctioning bodies.
